EP3968468A1

EP3968468A1 - Chiclets for a chiclet connector

Info

Publication number: EP3968468A1
Application number: EP21196162.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marc Reinhardt; Guenther Mumper; Christian Rusch; Bert Bergner; Srinivas RATHOD; Rutger Wilhelmus Smink; Jacobus Nicolaas Tuin
Original assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH; TE Connectivity India Pvt Ltd; TE Connectivity Nederland BV
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH; TE Connectivity India Pvt Ltd; TE Connectivity Nederland BV
Priority date: 2020-09-11
Filing date: 2021-09-10
Publication date: 2022-03-16
Also published as: KR20220034711A; CN114171948A; JP2022047537A; DE102020123799A1; KR102615148B1; US11837803B2; US20220085533A1

Abstract

The invention refers to a chiclet (4) for a chiclet connector (1). The chiclet (4) is intended to be used in environments subject to high vibration and shock loads for the transmission of data at a high data rate. For this purpose, the chiclet (4) has at least one conductor (44), a housing (7) and a support (48). The housing encloses a housing interior (32) through which the conductor (44) also extends. The two ends of the conductor form contacts (46) projecting from the housing. The housing forms a high frequency shield (22) electrically isolated from the conductor. The support mechanically connects the conductor to the housing and fixes it in the housing. The support is connected to the housing in a positive-fit and/or material-fit manner. The conductor thus retains its relative position in the housing even in the event of vibrations and shocks, so that the shielding of the housing remains unaffected by vibrations and shocks.

Description

The invention refers to chiclets for a chiclet connector, often referred to as a chiclet header. In the market, the term "chiclet" has become established for modules that are inserted side by side into a connector housing to build up a connector strip.
Chiclets or chiclet connectors are usually used in the field of data and devices, i.e. in devices for data transmission. The chiclet connectors are plugged onto carriers such as circuit boards or cards with integrated circuits, so called ICBs (integrated circuit boards).
The object of the present invention is to make chiclets and the connectors constructed therefrom suitable for applications in environments subject to high vibration and shock loads, which are also subject to high temperature fluctuations.
According to the invention, this object is solved by a chiclet for a chiclet connector or by a chiclet connector with a chiclet, the chiclet having at least one conductor, a housing and a support, the housing enclosing a housing interior, the conductor extending through the housing interior and the two ends of the conductor forming contacts projecting from the housing, the housing forming an electromagnetic shield electrically insulated from the conductor, in particular for the high frequency range, the support mechanically connecting the conductor to the housing and fixing it in the housing, and the support being connected to the housing in a positive-fitting and/or material-fitting manner.
By this measure the position of the conductor in the housing is fixed and at the same time, due to the form and/or material fit, also the position of the support in the housing is fixed. The conductor cannot move relative to the housing even in the event of strong vibrations or shocks. As a result, the shielding effect exerted by the housing does not change even in the event of strong vibrations or in the event of shocks, which is particularly important in high frequency applications that occur, for example, at high data rates.
Further developments which advantageously advance the invention are described below. The individual further developments can be combined with one another independently and as desired, and advantageous each for themselves.
Thus, according to a further advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the support completely surrounds the conductor inside the housing or that the at least one conductor is embedded in the support. In this way, the conductor is supported over its entire surface, which results in increased mechanical stability. In addition, no contamination impairing the shielding effect can penetrate between the conductor and the housing. The support and the conductor are preferably in full-surface mechanical contact with each other.
The support can completely fill the inside of the housing, which improves protection against contamination and mechanical position fixation of the conductors in the housing.
The housing preferably forms a flat parallelepiped, in particular a cuboid. Such a chiclet can be used to easily construct cuboid or parallelepiped connectors. The at least one conductor or the contacts formed by it preferably protrude from two narrow sides of the housing oriented in particular perpendicular to one another. This allows adjacent chiclets to be lined up with their flat sides lying against each other. The flat sides of the housing can be provided with projecting and/or recessed housing structures for mutual position fixing and positioning in the chiclet connector.
The number of conductors in a chiclet is arbitrary and depends on the application. For example, one conductor may be used, or two, three, four, six, eight or more conductors may be used per chiclet. Each conductor can be a one-piece sheet metal part, in particular stamped and/or bent.
The housing preferably surrounds the housing interior on all sides except for one side, which is in particular a narrow side from which a contact protrudes. This side is usually inserted into the carrier and does not need to be shielded.
According to another advantageous embodiment, the housing is configured as a high frequency shield. Such an embodiment requires that the openings of the housing must not exceed certain maximum dimensions.
According to a further advantageous embodiment, the housing can have housing extensions on one side, preferably on the side on which a contact extends out of the housing, and/or on its open side. The housing extensions may in particular be pin-like. They serve, for example, to fix the housing to the carrier.
The support and housing can be connected to each other in a positive-fit and/or material-fit manner at least on one flat side, in particular at at least one point on the flat side. The flat sides provide large surface sections which correspondingly enable large-area and thus stable fastening of the support to the housing. The positive-fit and/or material-fit connection is preferably located on two opposite flat sides.
The housing and support can have positive locking elements in the form of at least one pair of interlocking and complementary projections and recesses. Such a configuration enables the support to be fixed in the housing in a structurally simple manner. At the same time, the projections and recesses allow the support and thus the conductor fixed by the support to be positioned precisely with respect to the housing. The projections may be present on the housing, on the support, or both on the support and on the housing. The same applies to the recesses.
Preferably, the housing has fixing openings, for example in the form of holes, into which support extensions of the support extend for positive connection to the support. The support extensions can be formed, for example, as plastic rivets, which enable a particularly stable connection between support and housing that is easy to integrate into a production process. The plastic rivets can be a monolithic component of the support, i.e. formed directly by the support. The support and housing can be joined together by means of hot riveting. Welding or bonding is also possible.
Electrical plug connections in environments subject to vibration and/or shock often require particularly secure solder connections, for example by reflow soldering. In such applications, it is advantageous if the support is made of a material with a high-temperature strength of at least 240 °C, preferably at least 260 °C. The high-temperature strength can be determined in accordance with DIN EN ISO 75-1,-2,-3 or DIN EN ISO 306.
The support is preferably a plastic, in particular a thermoplastic. The support can be a plastic part, in particular an overmold, around which the conductor is molded. If the chiclet has a plurality of conductors, all the conductors are preferably overmolded by the support. Alternatively, the support may be constructed from a plurality of parts and assembled around the conductor. The individual parts can be connected to one another around the at least one conductor in a positive-fit and/or material-fit manner.
Regardless of whether the support is injection-molded around the at least one conductor or is composed of several parts around the at least one conductor, the support and conductor are preferably connected to form a part that can be handled as a single piece and, in particular, inserted into the housing. All conductors are consequently assembled with the support to form a part that can be easily preassembled, which considerably simplifies assembly, in particular also of different variants of chiclets.
According to a further advantageous embodiment, the chiclet can have at least one, in particular hollow shielding sleeve, extending away from the housing or projecting from the housing, which surrounds the contact of at least one conductor, preferably a single conductor, and is open at its end pointing away from the housing. The shielding sleeve improves shielding in the contact area. It should be electrically conductively connected to the housing. Transverse to the direction in which the shielding sleeve extends away from the housing, it should not protrude beyond the housing so that the assembly of adjacent chiclets is not impaired.
To fix the conductor in the shielding sleeve, the support can extend into the shielding sleeve at least in sections.
The housing can be assembled from two housing halves so that the support can be easily mounted. Thus, in such an embodiment, the support can first be inserted into one half of the housing and then the second half of the housing can be mounted, so that finally the support is surrounded by housing. The housing halves should overlap at least in some places, at least in some areas - viewed from the inside of the housing - where there is a gap between the housing halves. For example, one housing half may each have one or a plurality of housing tabs that overlap with the other housing half, particularly with housing tabs of the other housing half. The overlapping area is preferably exceptionally located on one or a plurality of narrow sides of the chiclet. In their simplest form, the housing tabs are rectangular. A plurality of tabs separated by gaps may be present on a narrow side. The overlaps ensure efficient shielding even in the high frequency range. Each of the housing halves can be a stamped/bent part. The housing halves can be connected to each other by a positive-fit and/or a material-fit.
The shielding sleeve, if present, may be monolithically formed or shaped by at least one of the two housing halves. Alternatively, the shielding sleeve can also be formed by the two housing halves together. This measure eliminates the time-consuming assembly of a separate shielding sleeve. If a separate shielding sleeve is provided, it preferably has one or more tabs that overlap the housing or housing tabs in areas where there is a gap between the shielding sleeve and housing. Alternatively or additionally, there may be one or a plurality of housing tabs that overlap the shielding sleeve.
In an alternative embodiment, the housing, optionally with the shielding sleeve, may be monolithically manufactured from one body. In particular, the housing may be a stamped/bent part made from a single piece of sheet metal. In particular, such a housing is folded around the support.
It is advantageous if the support is provided on one side, in particular on the side on which a contact protrudes from the housing and/or the housing is not closed and/or the housing itself has at least one housing extension, with a support extension which protrudes from the housing and which may in particular be pin-shaped. Such a support extension enables the support and the chiclet to be additionally fixed to the carrier.
The support extension can be configured as a plastic rivet or form a plastic rivet. The chiclet can thus be additionally fastened to the carrier by hot riveting.
To improve shielding, particularly in the high frequency range, the housing can, according to a further embodiment, have at least one gap at which two housing sections lie opposite one another, and wherein the two housing sections are connected at at least one point by an electrically conductive material bridge bridging the gap. The two housing sections can be connected to one another by the material bridge, in particular by a material bond. With this embodiment, a material saving can be realized compared to an overlap. In addition, the material bridges strengthen the structural integrity of the housing and make it more resilient. A material bridge can be created by soldering, welding and/or bonding, or made from electrically conductive solder, weld metal and/or adhesive.
According to the invention, the above-mentioned embodiments of the chiclet, which have two or more conductors, can be further improved by the housing having at least one depression projecting into the housing interior. Preferably, the depression is located between two of the at least two conductors. Preferably, the depression is arranged between two adjacent conductors. The depression may be referred to as indention as well. The at least one depression may be formed by mechanically processing the housing, i.e. by bending, deep-drawing, punch-drawing or similar forming processes.
Since the housing can be designed as a high frequency shielding, such a depression has the advantage that crosstalk or mutual interference between two different channels, in particular between the at least two conductors due to electromagnetic interference or crosstalk can be reduced or prevented. The different channels, in particular the individual conductors are each shielded against the at least one further channel or conductor. The at least one depression can thus be used for channel separation in a chiclet. The depression thus constitutes a shielding wall for the conductors.
In exemplary embodiments where three conductors are present, two depressions may be provided. A first depression can project into the housing interior between the first and second conductor, a second depression between the second and third conductor. Accordingly, depending on the particular application, one depression may be provided between any pair of (preferably adjacent) conductors of any number of conductors provided in the chiclet.
Each depression may thus define two sub-regions of the housing interior, which may be separated from each other by the depression. Each of these sub-regions may be a shielded sub-region. Preferably, only one conductor at a time is located in such a shielded sub-region. A sub-region formed by a first depression can be divided into two further sub-regions by a further depression located in this sub-region.
A shielded sub-region may, however, also contain two, three, four or more conductors. In an exemplary embodiment, two conductors may be utilized in parallel, i.e. transmitting the same signal. Thus, there may be provided more than one conductor per channel. Each depression may form two channels that are shielded against one another. Any number of conductors may be provided in each of the channels.
For example, four conductors may be located in the housing interior with a depression being provided between each adjacent conductor, so that such an embodiment of the chiclet can have three depressions which can divide the housing interior into four shielded sub-regions. In each of these four shielded sub-regions, exactly one conductor may be provided, which conductor may thus be electromagnetically shielded from the other conductors. In an embodiment utilizing two conductors in parallel, there may be two conductors in each of the four shielded sub-regions. There may thus be eight conductors in this exemplary and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the inventive chiclet.
More preferably, the depression extends from a flat side of the chiclet into the housing interior. In one possible embodiment, the depression extends from a housing wall on one flat side to a housing wall of the opposite flat side of the chiclet. The depression may mechanically abut the housing wall of the opposite flat side. The depression can thus deform a first inner housing wall, which faces towards the housing interior in such a way that this first inner housing wall contacts an opposite second inner housing wall. The depression may extend from one housing half to the opposite housing half and/or abut the opposite housing half.
The depression can preferably (more preferably continuously) extend from the narrow side of the chiclet, into which the at least two conductors project, to another narrow side of the chiclet, from which the contacts formed by the conductors project. This has the advantage that the depression may be arranged continuously between the two conductors inside the housing. The two conductors between which the depression may be located are thus continuously shielded from each other. Accordingly, several depressions can be provided between each two conductors, all of which may extend between the above-mentioned two narrow sides.
In a further advantageous embodiment, depressions can be located opposite each other on both flat sides of the chiclet. The depressions may thus be provided in pairs, with opposing depressions extending in opposite directions, towards each other, into the housing interior. The opposing depressions can each extend from the narrow side of the chiclet, into which the at least two conductors project, to the narrow side of the chiclet, from which the contacts formed by the conductors project. Electromagnetic shielding of one sub-region against another sub-region may be obtained without the depressions touching each other or without one depression touching the opposite inner side of the housing. However, the opposing depressions can touch each other. Alternatively one depression may touch the opposite inner side of the housing. In any of the above embodiments of the housing, electromagnetic shielding is provided.
The support of the chiclet can be designed complementary to the at least one depression. For example, the support can also have a depression, or alternatively have an opening (also: breakout), for example in the form of an elongated hole, into which the depression of the housing extends, or through which the depression of the housing extends. Preferably, the number of depressions of the support correlates with the number of depressions of the housing. In one embodiment, if opposing depressions of the housing are provided, these depressions of the housing may extend from opposite directions into the corresponding depression of the support or into the corresponding opening of the support.
The at least one depression may have a cup-shaped cross-section. A bottom of the depression may be arranged at a distance from the opposite inner side of the housing which distance is smaller than twice the thickness of the bottom. Preferably, the distance may be less than the thickness of the bottom, particularly preferably the distance may be less than half the thickness of the bottom. The thickness of the bottom refers to the thickness of the metal sheet forming the bottom of the depression. The bottom may abut the opposite inner side of the housing.
In embodiments of the chiclet that have opposing depressions, two bottoms of the opposing depressions can be opposite each other at this distance. A thinned portion of the support may be located in such a formed gap. Alternatively, the depression of the support may be an opening and the formed gap may be filled with air.
In different embodiments of the inventive chiclet, any combination and any number of the above described embodiments of the depression may be combined. Thus, in one exemplary embodiment one and the same housing of the chiclet may comprise a first depression extending from one flat side to the opposite inner side of the housing either touching said opposite inner side or being located at a distance to said inner side and the same housing of the chiclet may further comprise a second and third depression that oppose each other and extend into the housing interior from opposite sides. Also this pair of depressions may touch each other or may be located at a distance to one another (forming a gap). Thus, different embodiments of the depression may be provided at different locations in the housing.
The invention further refers to a set comprising a plurality of chiclets in one of the above embodiments, wherein the set comprises a first and a second configuration of chiclets and wherein the second configuration comprises contacts which are differently shaped and/or differently arranged and/or present in a different number than the contacts of the first configuration. The housing dimensions and any structures for positioning the housing, in particular on their flat sides, are preferably identical for the molds. With such a set, a connector can be assembled from the chiclets that simultaneously provides contacts for different communication and connection standards in different areas. Thus, instead of a large number of different connectors, a single connector can be adapted to different requirements by appropriate composition of the chiclets.
In the following, the invention is explained in more detail on the basis of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Individual features of an embodiment can be omitted in accordance with the above explanations if the technical effect of these features is not important for a particular application. Conversely, features not present in an embodiment shown below can be added in accordance with the above explanations if their technical effect is important for a particular application.
In the drawings and the description below, the same reference numerals are used for elements that correspond to each other in terms of function and/or structure for the sake of simplicity.

Fig. 1: shows a schematic perspective view of a chiclet connector with chiclets mounted on a support;
Fig. 2: shows a schematic perspective view of a chiclet;
Fig. 3: shows a schematic perspective view of the interior of the chiclet of Fig. 2:
Fig. 4: shows a schematic perspective view of the chiclet of Fig. 2 with one half of the housing removed;
Fig. 5: shows a schematic perspective view of another chiclet;
Fig. 6: shows a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of the chiclet;
Fig. 7: shows a schematic sectional view of the chiclet of Fig. 6 along A-A; and
Fig. 8: shows a schematic sectional view of the chiclet of Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 along B-B.

First, the structure and function of the invention are explained with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 shows a chiclet connector 1 mounted on a carrier 2, for example an ICB. A plurality of chiclets 4 are inserted side by side in receptacles 6 in the chiclet connector 1. The individual chiclets 4 stand on edge on a mounting plane 8, with their flat sides 10 facing each other.
Fig. 1 shows a mating connector 12 complementary to the chiclet connector 1 in the inserted state without housing. The mating connector 12 can be equipped with exchangeable contact modules 14 corresponding to the chiclets 4.
Depending on the type of chiclets 4 used, the chiclet connector 1 can be adapted to different applications. For this purpose, only different chiclets 4 have to be inserted into the housing 7.
Fig. 2 shows an example of a chiclet 4. The chiclet 4 has a housing 7 that is configured as a high frequency shielding 22. The housing 7 is a stamped/bent part that can be made from a single piece of sheet metal. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the housing 7 is made of two housing halves 24, 26, in particular joined or plugged together. In order to achieve effective high frequency shielding 22, the housing halves 24, 26 overlap in areas 28 where a housing gap 30 is located between the housing halves 24, 26. In particular, one or a plurality of, for example, rectangular housing tabs 29 may be provided at which the housing halves 24, 26 overlap.
The housing halves 24, 26 may be joined to each other by a material bond and/or by a form fit.
The housing 7 surrounds a housing interior 32 (Fig. 3) preferably on all sides, although one side 34, which in particular faces the mounting plane 8 or, in the assembled state, the carrier 2, can remain open.
In particular, the side 34 is a narrow side 36 of the otherwise cuboid housing 7. The shape of the housing 7 is not limited to a cuboid. The housing may be generally in the form of a parallelepiped. Individual sides of the housing 7 may, of course, also be rounded or curved if this is required by the application.
The areas 28 where the housing halves 24, 26 overlap when viewed from the housing interior 32 are also preferably located on the narrow sides 36 or a narrow side 36.
The chiclet 4 may form one or a plurality of pin-like housing extensions 38 on the side 34 lying in the mounting plane 8 of the chiclet 4. The housing extensions 38 of the housing 7 are preferably an integral or monolithic component of the housing halves 24, 26 or of the material of the housing 7. They serve to be inserted into corresponding openings of the carrier and soldered there. The openings of the carrier are preferably lined with an electrically conductive material and also serve to shield or establish an electrical contact between the housing 7 and a fixed potential provided on the carrier side. At the same time, the housing extensions 38 serve to fix the chiclet 4 and the chiclet connector 1 to the carrier 2.
The housing 7 may be provided with at least one shielding sleeve 40 projecting away from the housing 7. The shielding sleeve 40 is open at its end 42 facing away from the housing 7. It forms a cavity into which a conductor 44 of the chiclet 4 extends. In Fig. 2, only one end of the conductor 44, which protrudes on the side 34 and forms a contact 46, can be seen. The contact 46, which protrudes from the housing 7 on the side 34, serves to be inserted into a corresponding mating contact of the carrier. The shielding sleeve 40 can be a separate component that is connected to the housing 7 in a material and/or form-fitting manner. However, the shielding sleeve 40 may also be integrally formed by a housing half 24. Alternatively, both housing halves 24, 26 can also form the shielding sleeve 40 together.
It can be seen in the variant of Fig. 2 that the shielding sleeve 40 is a separate part that is joined to the housing 7 or the housing halves 24. Here, too, the shielding sleeve 40 and the housing overlap in areas where there is a gap 72 between the shielding sleeve 40 and one or both housing halves 24, 26 in order to achieve effective shielding even in the high-frequency range. In order to produce overlaps with the housing 7, the shielding sleeve 40 may be provided with, for example, rectangular tabs 47. In particular, such a tab 47 may overlap a housing tab 29.
The overlaps between the housing halves 24, 26 or their housing tabs 29 and/or the overlaps between the tabs 47 of the shielding sleeve 40 and the housing tabs preferably take place exclusively on at least one of the one or a plurality of narrow sides 36 of the chiclet 2.
The housing tabs 29 and the tabs 47 of the shielding sleeve 40 may simultaneously serve as fasteners. For example, welding or bonding may join the housing tabs 29 and/or the housing tabs 29 to the tabs 47.
The number of conductors 44 in a chiclet 4 is determined solely by the application. The same applies to the number of shielding sleeves 40. For illustration purposes only, Fig. 2 shows two conductors 44 and correspondingly two shielding sleeves 40. The number of shielding sleeves 40 can also be smaller than the number of conductors 44 of a chiclet 4.
The chiclet 4 has a support 48 in the housing interior 32, which is connected to the housing 7 in a positive-fitting and/or material-fitting manner. The support 48 is made of a plastic which has a heat resistance of at least 240 °C, preferably of more than 260 °C, so that the conductor 44 can be connected to the corresponding mating contact of the support by means of a joining process with a high heat input, such as reflux soldering.
The connection between the support 48 and the housing 7 preferably takes place on one or both flat sides 10 of the housing 7. Thus, the housing 7 can have one or a plurality of openings or holes 52 on its flat side, into which or through which a projection 54 of the support projects. Opening 52 and projection 54 are merely two examples of positive-fitting elements by means of which the support 54 is held in position in the housing 7 and is vibration- and shock-resistant. In particular, the projection 54 may form a plastic rivet 56 that is monolithically formed from the support 58. The support 48 and housing 7 are riveted together in this manner. At reference numeral 58, a projection forming a plastic rivet is shown prior to hot riveting. At reference numeral 56, the riveted plastic rivet is shown.
The support 48 may have or form one or a plurality of pin-shaped support extensions 60 that protrude from the housing 7 on the side 34 or the side of the mounting plane 8. The support extensions 60 may be used to additionally secure the chiclet to the support 2 via the support 48, for example by hot riveting.
In one embodiment, the extensions 38, 60 of the housing and support do not serve to attach to a carrier 2, but rather to attach to a platform 62 which may be located between the carrier 2 and chiclet connector 1 or may be part of the chiclet connector 1 and form its mounting plane 8, or to the carrier 2 through such a platform 62.
In a variation of the embodiment described above, the side 34 of the housing 7 need not be open, but may be covered at least in sections by the housing 7 if improved shielding is required on that side. The at least one contact 46 and the support extensions 60 can then protrude from the side 34 through openings in the housing 7.
Fig. 3 shows the chiclet 4 of Fig. 2 with the housing half 26 removed and without the support 48. It can be seen that a conductor 44 extends continuously through the housing interior 32 and projects through two narrow sides 36 of the housing 7 that are aligned orthogonally to one another. The portions of the conductor 44 projecting from the housing thereby form contacts 46 for contacting complementary contacts of the mating connector 12 or the carrier 2 (Fig. 1). One contact 46 is surrounded by the shielding sleeve 40 and is used for contacting corresponding mating contacts (not shown) of the mating connector 12. The other contact 46 projects out of the side 34 and is used for contacting a mating contact provided by the carrier 2, for example, in the form of a socket or hole (not shown).
The effect of the shielding of the housing and the shielding sleeve 40, if any, changes with the position of the conductor 44 in the housing 7 or in the shielding sleeve 40. If the conductor 44 vibrates relative to the housing 7 in an environment subject to vibration or shock, the shielding effect changes with time. Therefore, in order to use the chiclet 4 at high data rates and in environments subject to vibration or shock, the position of the conductor 44 relative to the housing 7 is fixed by the support 48. The support 48 is shown in Fig. 4, in which the chiclet of Fig. 2 is shown without the housing half 26 facing the viewer.
The support 48 is injection molded around the conductors 44, which are preferably held in the lead frame, prior to insertion into the housing 7. Consequently, the support 48 and the conductors 44, 46 form a part which can be handled as a single piece and which, in the assembly process, is inserted as a whole into a housing half 24 or the housing 7 which has not yet been finished. As can be seen, the support 48 extends at least in sections into the shielding sleeve 40. The shielding sleeve 40 may likewise already be fitted onto the support 48 in the course of assembly and be joined together therewith as a pre-assembled part with the housing 7 or the housing half 24. In this case, the support 48 has a for example stub-shaped extension 74, which extends from the housing interior 32 in sections into the shielding sleeve 40. The conductor 44 is embedded in the extension 74. The extension 74 fixes the position of the conductor 44 in the shielding sleeve 40. For this purpose, the extension 74 can be pressed into the shielding sleeve 40 or the shielding sleeve 40 can be pressed onto the extension 74 of the support 48.
Instead of a support 48 molded around the conductor 44, a support composed of two or more parts may be provided. The conductor 44 can be inserted into such a support before the individual parts are joined together. In this case, the individual parts may be connected to each other by positive-fit and/or material-fit. In such an embodiment, bonding and/or ultrasonic welding of the parts of a support 48 is suitable.
The support 48 preferably completely fills the housing interior 32, thus having a shape complementary to the housing interior. The housing interior 32 may have substantially the shape of the housing 7, i.e. be parallelepipedal or generally parallelepipedal. On a flat side 10, as already discussed above, the support 48 has positive locking elements 76 in the form of projections 58 which cooperate with correspondingly complementary shaped positive locking elements 52, 78 (Fig. 3) of the housing and secure the position of the support 48 relative to the housing 7. In addition to projections 58, the support 48 can thereby also have recesses or depressions 80 as positive locking elements 76, which interact with correspondingly complementary positive locking elements or positioning aids of the housing 7. The positive-locking elements of the support 48 can also serve to fix a chiclet 4 in the chiclet connector 1 by engaging in complementarily configured positive-locking elements of the chiclet connector 1. In addition to or instead of a positive connection, a material connection may also be provided between the support 48 and the housing 7. For example, the support 48 can be welded or bonded to the housing 7.
Fig. 5 shows a chiclet header whose housing 7, together with the shield extensions 40, is monolithically formed from a single piece of sheet metal. This may be a differential contact, whereas the chiclet 4 of Figs. 2 to 4 may be a coaxial contact. Of course, the manufacturing method of the housing 7 is independent of the contact or circuit form in which chiclet 4 is used.
To save material, the monolithic housing 7 is provided with material bridges 82 made of an electrically conductive material, for example a solder, weld metal or adhesive, which bridges opposing sections 84 between which there is a housing gap 30. Thus, housing tabs can be dispensed with. Finally, the housing 7 of Fig. 5 also has a housing structure 86, for example in the form of a projection or alternatively in the form of a recess, which is used for positive fixing and/or positioning in a chiclet connector 1. Such a housing structure 86 can of course also be present in the embodiment of Figs. 2 to 4. Alternatively or additionally, a section of the support projecting through the housing 7, for example the projection 54 or the plastic rivet 56, can also serve to position the chiclet 4 in the chiclet connector 1.
In Figs. 6 to 8, a further embodiment of the chiclet 4 according to the invention is shown in perspective and two sectional views.
Basic features of the chiclet 4 correspond to those of the figures described above. Thus, chiclet 4 also has a housing 7 which serves as a high frequency shielding 22 and which encloses a support 48 (see Fig. 7).
In Fig. 6 a position of the two conductors 44 is schematically indicated. These extend from a narrow side 36, on which the shielding sleeve 40 is provided, to a narrow side 36, on which the contacts 46 formed by the conductor as well as the support extensions 60 are formed.
The housing 7 of the shown embodiment of the chiclet 4 has a depression 88 which projects between the two conductors 44 into the housing interior 32 (see Fig. 7). The depression 88 further comprises a bottom 90 and extends in a curved manner from one narrow side 36 to a second narrow side 36, so that the depression 88 is always located between the two conductors 44.
Fig. 7 shows a sectional view along A-A (see Fig. 6) in which the two conductors 44 are indicated. In the embodiment shown, the conductors 44 are cast or molded into the support 48. In other embodiments, the conductors 44 may not be cast, but merely held in or by the support 48.
As the depression 88 extends into the housing interior 32, two shielded sub-regions 92 are formed with a conductor 44 disposed in each shielded sub-region 92. In other embodiments (not shown), more than two conductors 44 may be provided, each with a depression 88 located between two adjacent conductors 44. Thus, the two conductors 44 are shielded from harmful or disturbing interaction between the two conductors 44. Mutual interference may thus be reduced or prevented.
Fig. 8 shows a sectional view along B-B (see Fig. 7) in which the two shielded sub-regions 92, a first shielded sub-region 94 and a second shielded sub-region 96 are visible.
Furthermore, Fig. 8 shows that a depression 88 extends from each flat side 10 into the housing interior 32. A first depression 88a faces a second depression 88b, and a gap 98 may be formed between the bottoms 90 of the two depressions 88a, 88b. In other embodiments (not shown here), both bottoms 90 may contact each other and completely shield the two shielded sub-regions 92 from one another.
In another embodiment (not shown), it is possible that the first depression 88a extends from one flat side 10 to the opposite flat side 10, such that no second depression 88b is necessary.
In Figs. 7 and 8, support 48 also has a support depression 100. In the embodiment of chiclet 4, support depression 100 is designed as a support opening 102, into which the two depressions 88a and 88b of the housing 7 extend.
According to the invention, a thinned-out region of the support 48 may be located in the gap 90 in some embodiments of the chiclets 4 (not shown).

Reference Numerals

1: chiclet connector
2: carrier
4: chiclet
6: receptacle
7: housing
8: mounting plane
10: flat side
12: mating connector
14: mating connector contact module
22: high frequency shielding
24: housing half
26: housing half
28: Areas of the housing halves
29: Housing tab
30: housing gap
32: housing interior
34: (open) side of the housing
36: narrow side
38: housing extension
40: shielding sleeve
42: (open) end of shielding sleeve
44: conductor
46: contact formed by the conductor
47: tap of the shielding sleeve
48: support
52: opening in housing
54: projection of the support
56: plastic rivet
58: plastic rivet before hot forming
60: support extension
62: platform
70: overlapping area of shielding sleeve and housing
72: gap between shielding sleeve and housing
74: extension of the support in the shielding sleeve
76: positive locking element of the support
78: positive locking element of the housing
80: recess
82: material bridge
84: housing sections opposite each other with respect to housing gap
86: housing structure
88: depression
90: bottom
92: shielded sub-region
94: first shielded sub-region
96: second shielded sub-region
98: gap
100: support depression
102: support opening

Claims

Chiclet (4) for a chiclet connector (1), the chiclet having at least one conductor (44), a housing (7) and a support (48), the housing enclosing a housing interior (32), the conductor extending through the housing interior and the two ends of the conductor forming contacts (46) projecting from the housing, the housing forming an electromagnetic shield (22) electrically insulated from the conductor, wherein the support mechanically connects the conductor to the housing and fixes it in the housing, and wherein the support is connected to the housing in a positive-fitting and/or material-fitting manner.
Chiclet (4) according to claim 1, wherein the support (48) and the housing (7) are connected to one another in a positive-fitting and/or material-fitting manner at least on one of the flat sides (10).
Chiclet (4) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing (7) has openings (52) for positive connection to the support (48), into which projections (54) of the support (48) extend.
Chiclet (4) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support (48) and the housing (7) are connected to each other by at least one plastic rivet (58).
Chiclet (4) according to claim 4, wherein the at least one plastic rivet (58) is a monolithic component of the support (48).
Chiclet (4) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the support (48) has on one side (34) at least one extension (60) projecting from the housing (7).
Chiclet (4) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support (48) is overmolded around the conductor (44).
Chiclet (4) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the chiclet comprises at least one shielding sleeve (40) extending away from the housing (7), surrounding a contact (46), open at its end (42) facing away from the housing and electrically connected to the housing.
Chiclet (4) according to claim 8, wherein, the support (48) extends at least partially into the shielding sleeve (40).
Chiclet (4) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the housing (7) is joined together from two housing halves (24, 26) and wherein the housing halves overlap at least at regions (28) at which a housing gap (30) is located between the housing halves.
Chiclet (4) according to claim 10 and according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the shielding sleeve (40) is formed by at least one of the two housing halves (24, 26).
Chiclet (4) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the housing (7) is monolithically made of a sheet metal.
Chiclet (4) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the housing (7) has at least one housing gap (30) at which two housing sections (84) lie opposite one another and wherein the two housing sections are connected by at least one electrically conductive material bridge (82) bridging the housing gap.
A set comprising a plurality of chiclets (4) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the set comprises a first and a second configuration of chiclets (4), and wherein the second configuration comprises contacts (46) that are differently shaped and/or differently arranged and/or different in number than the contacts (46) of the first configuration.
A chiclet connector (1) in which a plurality of chiclets (4) according to one of claims 1 to 13 are received side by side.